# THE WALKING DEAD: After seeing Terminus, do we all owe the Governor an apology? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076 "2014-10-21T21:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/1 "2014-10-21T21:51:19Z")
A line stolen from Talking Dead. I’d explain what I mean except that most everybody who recognizes the terms will know what I mean, and people who don’t recognize the terms can’t reasonably be said to have meaningful opinions, plus I expect that if the thread gets any legs others will provide details, plus I’m a jerk. Poll in 15.34 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/2 "2014-10-21T21:52:19Z")
Huh? no… why? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/3 "2014-10-21T21:55:49Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Huh? no… why? Chris what’s-his-name on Talking Dead made the suggestion, the clear implication being that the Governor was far less evil than Gareth, leader of the pseudo-civiilized cannibals of Terminus. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/4 "2014-10-21T21:56:00Z")
Woodbury’s dark secret was that they would murder anyone who threatened the stability of the town. Terminus’ dark secret was that they would murder and EAT anyone who wasn’t one of them. I guess I could mumble an apology and kick some rocks. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/5 "2014-10-21T22:01:35Z")
I think the Governor comes out ahead in this contest. There was some choice involved, and no threat of being eaten. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/6 "2014-10-21T22:01:37Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Woodbury’s dark secret was that they would murder anyone who threatened the stability of the town. > Terminus’ dark secret was that they would murder and EAT anyone who wasn’t one of them. And that the only way to become one of them was to be willing to murder & eat people. Well, and rob people too. Though that falls way under “murder & eat” in the catalog of sins. I checked with Pope Francis to be sure. But what really puts Gareth over the top when it comes to comic-book villainy isn’t simply murdering & eating passersby, but keeping Bob alive while eating him. Even Hannibal Lecter has the decency to off his victims first. And nobody mention Krendler. No such novel as _Hannibal_ was ever published; likewise _Hannibal Rising_. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/7 "2014-10-21T22:04:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Chris what’s-his-name on Talking Dead Hardwick, or as he will be known after our wedding, Hardwick-Sampiro. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/8 "2014-10-21T22:05:03Z")
Although… and I’ve thought this in other contexts… is being eaten after death really all that bad? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/9 "2014-10-21T22:09:27Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Although… and I’ve thought this in other contexts… is being eaten after death really all that bad? Yes. But it’s certainly not as bad as being eaten BEFORE death. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/10 "2014-10-21T22:09:54Z")
I’d say it’s preferable to being eaten _before_ death. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/11 "2014-10-21T22:11:27Z")
I’m indifferent. If someone wants to eat me after I’m dead, I’m ok with that. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/12 "2014-10-21T22:14:06Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I’m indifferent. If someone wants to eat me after I’m dead, I’m ok with that. Eww…with a gammy leg? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/13 "2014-10-21T22:16:47Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I’m indifferent. If someone wants to eat me after I’m dead, I’m ok with that. But would you rather, while traveling [del]thru[/del] [del]through[/del] thru a post-apocalyptic landscape in which even grits were no longer available, find yourself in Terminus or Woodbury? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/14 "2014-10-21T22:21:56Z")
I have no interest in eating other people. So Woodbury. And I would avoid Terminus since they’d take measures to be able to eat me. But if I were being endeadenated regardless, I don’t care if someone eats me. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/15 "2014-10-21T22:22:49Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > THE WALKING DEAD: After seeing Terminus, do we all owe the Governor an apology? (post shortened) No apology needed. Both are sociopaths, or psychopaths, and there is no place to hospitalize them far, far away from society. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/16 "2014-10-21T22:27:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > No apology needed. Both are sociopaths, or psychopaths, and there is no place to hospitalize them far, far away from society. The point is that the Governor seems way less evil in light of Gareth. Hell, if Michonne and Andrea had happened to find Rick’s group before finding Woodbury, he might never have descended into full-blown villainy. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/17 "2014-10-21T22:38:07Z")
In defense of the Termites, at least they’re always killing for a reason and not letting the meat go to waste. The Governor didn’t always just kill for self-defense, he was just a plain psycho killer, sometimes. It’s almost like the difference between a hunter that kills and eats his prey, and a psycho that kills animals for the thrill and leaves the meat to rot. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/18 "2014-10-21T22:38:15Z")
Is this one of those morality questions where we say “Ted Bundy wasn’t that bad if you compare him to Hitler”? 'Cause I’m not buying it. All I owe the Gov is a boot right out of the storyline. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/19 "2014-10-21T22:38:28Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The point is that the Governor seems way less evil in light of Gareth. Hell, if Michonne and Andrea had happened to find Rick’s group before finding Woodbury, he might never have descended into full-blown villainy. …didn’t he ambush that group of army guys and murder them? He was a full-blown villain completely separate from Rick’s crew showing up. He just became an out and out psychotic villain thanks to losing Woodbury. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076/20 "2014-10-21T22:45:37Z")
Tough choice, given the options. I chose ‘an order of magnitude more evil’. The Governor was a sociopath who created a cult of personality. Gareth is a psychopath who institutionalised behaviour that is abhorrent to most people. I think that is more evil because a Governor-type can be overthrown or assassinated. The Gareth-type can be assassinated, but the machine he created will still exist. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-after-seeing-terminus-do-we-all-owe-the-governor-an-apology/702076.md?page=2)